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Published : 25 Mar 2026, 10:22 AM
Bangladesh is commemorating the martyrs of the genocide committed by the Pakistani forces on the night of Mar 25, 1971, to suppress the Bengali people’s fervent struggle for freedom.
The Bengali nation launched its Liberation War in the wake of the horrors carried out under Operation Searchlight that night. Nine months later, independent and sovereign Bangladesh emerged on the world map.
On Wednesday, the nation will honour the martyrs of that dark night through various programmes to mark what has now been recognised as “Genocide Day”.
WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT
While political negotiations were ongoing between Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after the national elections, the Pakistani military had already begun planning the operation in February. By Mar 17, the strategy was finalised. The assault on Dhaka was scheduled to begin at 1:00am on Mar 25, led by maj gen Rao Farman Ali of the Pakistani Army’s 57th Division. Meanwhile, maj gen Khadim Raja of the 14th Division was tasked with overseeing operations in other parts of the country.
Around 10:00pm, a heavily armed military convoy set out from Dhaka Cantonment towards the city. As the troops advanced, they encountered their first resistance at Farmgate, where people had blocked the roads using tree trunks, broken-down vehicles, and steamrollers.
The air rang out with cries of "Joy Bangla" as protesters stood their ground in defiance. But the Pakistani forces responded with gunfire, shattering the resistance and pushing forward. By 10:30pm, nearly 80 armoured vehicles had positioned themselves in full battle formation at both ends of the Racecourse Ground.
By 11:20pm, the Pakistani army began surrounding the Rajarbagh Police Lines. Soon after, they launched their assault, and emergency radio messages carried news of the attack to nearby districts and subdivisions. At 11:30pm, under the command of col Taj from the 32nd Punjab Regiment, Pakistani forces stormed Rajarbagh, only to be met with fierce resistance from Bengali police officers who, despite being outnumbered and outgunned, fought back bravely.
At the same time, in a coordinated attack, the 22nd Baloch Regiment launched an assault on the East Pakistan Rifles (EPR) headquarters in Pilkhana. Though poorly equipped, the Bengali soldiers inside the barracks took up arms and fought against overwhelming odds.
As the night progressed, the brutality of the attack escalated. Heavy assaults targeted Dhaka University, Shankhari Bazaar, and other parts of the city. With power lines deliberately cut, darkness swallowed Dhaka as gunfire, explosions, and the relentless roar of tanks filled the air. The Pakistani forces showed no mercy. They stormed student dormitories, faculty residences, and slum areas, massacring everyone in their path.
Shortly after 1:00am, the Pakistani army, accompanied by tanks and armoured vehicles, stormed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence in Dhanmondi and arrested him. Before being taken into custody in the early hours of Mar 26, he made a final proclamation declaring Bangladesh’s independence.
What followed was a brutal nine-month war, during which three million people lost their lives, 250,000 women were subjected to horrific violence, and an entire nation made immense sacrifices. At last, on Dec 16, Bangladesh achieved victory, emerging as an independent and sovereign state on the world map.
On Mar 30, 1971, journalist Simon Dring wrote in The Daily Telegraph: “In the name of God and a united Pakistan, Dhaka is today a crushed and frightened city. After 24 hours of ruthless, coldblooded shelling by the Pakistan army, as many as 7,000 people are dead, large areas have been levelled and East Pakistan's fight for independence has been brutally put to an end.”
The Pakistani forces spared no one -- not even the female students at Rokeya Hall. Professors at Dhaka University were also targeted, with nine faculty members, including Dr Govinda Chandra Dev, Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta, Professor Santosh Chandra Bhattacharya, and Dr Moniruzzaman, mercilessly killed.
Since 2017, Bangladesh has officially observed Mar 25 as Genocide Day, while the government has continued efforts to secure international recognition of the massacre.
CALL FOR CREATING A BANGLADESH BASED ON SPIRIT OF LIBERATION WAR
This year Genocide Day has arrived at a time when the Awami League, which led the Liberation War, has been ousted from power and is no longer active in field politics.
Former prime minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina fled to India in the face of a student-led mass movement on Aug 5, 2024. She has remained there since, while party leaders and activists are also absent from political activities on the ground.
The fall of the Awami League government after more than 15 years in power has been followed by a BNP-led government assuming office after a tenure under an interim government.
Amid strained relations with the interim government, no message was issued by President Mohammed Shahabuddin on last year’s Genocide Day. This year, however, he has delivered a message marking the occasion under the new government.
Recalling the genocide carried out by Pakistani forces and their collaborators in 1971, the president said: “The younger generation must clearly understand the brutal atrocities of that time, as well as our nation’s pride and heroism, and be inspired.”
He added: “Through a free, fair and credible election, people’s long-cherished voting rights have been restored after many years. A democratic government has been established through the people’s mandate. The government has begun taking various programmes and initiatives to build a discrimination-free, democratic, humane and self-reliant Bangladesh.”
“The martyrs of the Liberation War dreamed of a humane, democratic and justice-based state—one free from inequality, deprivation, misrule, corruption and injustice. Let us work together, regardless of religion, caste or political affiliation, to fulfil that vision and be inspired by patriotism.”
In his first message as prime minister marking Genocide Day, BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman called for unity in building a self-reliant and democratic Bangladesh.
Referring to the events of Mar 25, 1971, he said: “The genocide on Mar 25 was a premeditated massacre. Why it could not be resisted at the time remains a subject of historical research, particularly regarding the visible role of the political leadership then.”
“However, on the night of Mar 25, members of the 8th East Bengal Regiment in Chattogram formally launched armed resistance against the genocide, declaring ‘We revolt’. The nine-month armed Liberation War began through this resistance.”
Emphasising the need to convey the value and significance of independence to present and future generations, he said: “Let us strive to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War—equality, human dignity and social justice—in the state and society, and repay the sacrifice of the martyrs. Let us work together to build a just, developed, prosperous, self-reliant and democratic Bangladesh.”
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has said special security measures have been taken for Genocide Day as well as Independence and National Day.
RAB said it remains vigilant to prevent any disorder by banned organisations or other militant groups centring these observances.
GOVT SCRAPS PLANNED ‘BLACKOUT’ FOR GENOCIDE DAY
Various programmes have been undertaken at the government and private levels to observe Genocide Day across the country with due dignity and solemnity on Wednesday.
The government has given directives to authorities not to do decorative lighting nationwide on Mar 26, Independence Day and National Day, in order to save energy amid the war in the Middle East.
However, the government has cancelled the planned one-minute symbolic “blackout” scheduled for Wednesday night to observe Genocide Day, a tradition maintained for the last few years.
The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs issued a brief message Tuesday night confirming that the programme would not be held, without giving a specific reason for the decision.
Earlier on Tuesday, a government press release had instructed the nation to switch off all lights for one minute, from 10:30pm to 10:31pm on Mar 25, to commemorate the victims of the "Operation Searchlight" massacre launched by the Pakistani military in 1971.
The initial directive had exempted key point installations, emergency services, and foreign missions in Bangladesh from the blackout.
On this day, all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, madrasas and technical educational institutions in the country, will organise memorial and discussion meetings on the Mar 25 genocide and the Liberation War with prominent figures and valiant freedom fighters.
Besides, an exhibition of rare objective and impartial photographs and documentaries on the genocide will be organised in all city corporation areas of the country, including Dhaka, from 12pm onwards on Mar 25.
Special prayer sessions will be held at the mosques after Zuhr prayer and at other places of worship at a convenient time in remembrance of the martyrs of Mar 25.
